More On Baseball

Okay. Let's agree on one thing: Bud Selig is a total jackass. Here are a couple quotes of his when he talked about the A-Roid issue:

"It was against the law, so I would have to think about that," on whether he might discipline Rodruiguez, possibly by suspension.
I would like to see him try and suspend A-Rod, or even punish him at all. The Players Union would go apeshit. The Union would be Nasty Nate, and Selig would be Kenny without Squirrel Master to protect him. Simple as that. What's that legal term about how you can't be punished for a crime that was not a crime yet when you committed it? Same thing here.

"This is breaking my heart, I don't mind telling you that."
Ha! This is as insulting as it is lame. Bud Selig, and pretty much Bud Selig alone, presided over the Steroid Era. Don't try and tell me he didn't know what was going on. Players, managers, GMs, owners, and MLB officials all knew about it. The reason they didn't do anything about it was because they were all making tons of money for it. Selig often reminds us about how attendace and revenue are up during his tenure as Commissioner. What he doesn't remind us of is that that is a result of all the home runs being hit due to steroids (see 1998, when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa saved/ruined baseball). So yes, everyone shares the responsibility. But ultimately, most of it has to fall on Selig. It has been his league. Should have we expected some righteous owners to tell their fans "Well, folks, as a result of having a the scrawniest team in baseball, we finished fourth in our division again. But you can be sure that we've got the cleanest guys around!" No. It's Selig's leauge. He is in charge. He is responsible for what will be looked at as a dark time in baseball.
The one other thing he likes to mention is how he brought Wild Card baseball to the League. Like that wasn't gonna happen otherwise. He also is responsible for an All-Star game that ended in a tie, and a World Series game that was suspened for over 24 hours, both resulting in a ton of people freaking out, and both the result of lack of preparation. Again - his League, his responsibility.
And I am also reading that he is considering reinstating Hank Aaron as baseball's official home run king! I would also like to see him try this one. Seriously I hope he does, just because of the fit I would get to throw. So maybe the record book will read:
1. Hank Aaron - 755
2. Barry Bonds - 762
Or maybe he'll just claim that steroids were responsible for exactly 8 Barry Bonds home runs, and he'll put Bonds at 754. I mean, he can't really think he could do something like this, right? I love it how he freaks out now that A-Rod is tainted. Because A-Rod was going to be his savior. Once A-Rod broke Barry's record, it--along with his hands presumably--would be clean. And now that A-Rod is no good, NOW he decides that Aaron (his close personal friend by the way) should be back on top.
So we are agreed then: Bud Selig is a total jackass. Moving on.

Will someone please explain to me why Manny Ramirez has not signed with anyone? At the beginning of the offseason, when he wanted a 4 or 5 year deal, I get why you wouldn't want that. He's 37 and already a defensive liability. But now it seems pretty clear that he's not gonna get 4 or 5 years. He's only gonna get 1 or 2. And seemingly at a reasonable price as well. If you are a team trying to win a World Series, I cannot understand why you would not bid on him at this point. Shit even 3 years, especially in the AL. How are the Yankees not going after him? Right now, they have to be considered strong contenders, but with Manny, would they not be a crystal clear favorite? Think about that lineup with A-Rod Manny and Texiera. Plus Red Sox fans would be crying themselves to sleep. But other teams as well. Mets, Angels, or anyone who wants to win a championship. He's going to help your team immensly. And he's at a pretty good bargain. The more I think about it, the more I want the Giants to go for him. They would shoot to the favorites in the NL West, and with him, World Series contention is not unreasonable in 2 or 3 years. Plus to snatch him from the Dodgers would just feel so right.
Plus, I think baseball is gonna be hit by the economy more that most people realize. Of the major sports, baseball is the first to have its season start after the collapse. And what I keep reading is that things are not going to get better in 2009; maybe worse. So considering that Manny is the biggest draw of any player (with the possibe exception of A-Rod), that's another reason to sign him right there. This is insane. Spring Training has started, and one of the best hitters in the game who is still in his prime does not have a team to play for. It's insane.

Also, I hate Hate HATE when people refer to Ken Griffey Jr. as "Junior Griffey". That is not his name.